EIB to invest about EUR800 mln in Ukraine in 2016

The European Investment Bank (EIB) intends to invest about EUR800 million in projects in Ukraine in 2016, while in future mulls the annual funding of up to EUR1 billion for the country, EIB Senior Corporate Banker Jean-Jacques Soulacroup has told Interfax-Ukraine on the sidelines of the fourth international investment conference New Ukraine in Kyiv.

"Last year we provided loans worth EUR1.2 billion, this year, I believe, there will be about EUR800 million. We work with the European Commission to see whether it is possible to expand the portfolio and reach a figure of EUR1 billion per year and maintain this volume," he said.

According to him, about 60% of lending falls on public sector - development of transport infrastructure, energy, energy efficiency projects, municipal projects, environmental projects, and 40% is aimed at lending to small and medium-sized enterprises through local partner banks.

According to the banker, the EIB's total portfolio of loans in Ukraine is EUR4.3 billion.